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BlackBerry Rio Z20 will end up Leaping

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The BlackBerry Rio Z20 is supposedly the next big thing from John Chen’s newly revived company, although the Rio might be dropped from its name this time. We didn’t really like the Rio moniker for BlackBerry devices, so a different name is definitely sitting better in my point of view, but the fans will ultimately decide. According to Crackberry, an exclusive BlackBerry news site, the Rio Z20 will become the Leap once it is launched, and I dare say that name sounds much more inspired and reflects much better on the company itself and what they propose to accomplish this year.

John Chen promised 4 new innovative handsets last year, besides the Blackberry Passport, but we’ve only seen one of them being unveiled so far, the ever-fashionable Classic. Chen and co. are mum about the rest of the device that should be unveiled in the first half of 2015, but at least we more or less have confirmation that the so-called Leap is in the works and set to launch soon enough. Previous rumors about the new all-touch BlackBerry pegged for a February release, but it seems that might have been delayed.

BlackBerry is going to have its own booth, and events at the MWC 2015 next week, so we might see the Leap pop up there, but we can’t confirm that just yet. John Chen promised that he would reveal all the plans the company has for 2015, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see a new smartphone launched, too. Since rumors and leaks are scarce when it comes to the Canadian company, we’re not sure if the BlackBerry Leap will be launched there or if another phone would be introduced. In any case, we’re curious about the all-touch Leap, as BlackBerry pretty much botched previous attempts at this type of smartphone.

The BlackBerry Passport and Classic are immensely successful and have surely made the company proud, not to mention setting a standard for innovative, unconventional smartphone design. Even though an all-touch BlackBerry doesn’t seem all that unconventional, we’re wondering how Chen will turn it into something innovative. The photos obtained by CrackBerry are pretty revealing, showing off sturdy bezels and a metal frame around the alleged Leap. The specs for the device aren’t really interesting, as the Leap will most likely end up being a mid-range smartphone, but take it with a grain of salt for now.

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It’s just a concept, for now.

One interesting bit is that the BlackBerry Leap is close to 10 mm thick. We could speculate a lot on that, although most likely, the alleged 2800 mAh battery is the culprit. But what if it isn’t? We’ve seen thinner phones (Galaxy Note 4) with bigger batteries and flagship specs, so what then? There’s not much space to make use of within a smartphone chassis, but seeing as Chen promised innovation, the Leap might just turn out to be the device with a hidden keyboard. Wouldn’t that be just amazing? Having a 10 mm phone with a hidden keyboard built-in? I would definitely use this for that.

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Alas, we’re not sure if the hidden keyboard feature is the case with the BlackBerry Leap. It’s rather unlikely, to be fair, because you would have to get your hands on an incredibly thin keyboard and the mechanism to pop it in and out from behind or below the phone, which will most likely occupy more than 2 or maybe 3 mm of space. Anyhow, it’s a nice thought. The rest of the specs we’ve heard about are pretty rudimentary, including the 5 inch 1280*720 resolution display. Rumors also state that the handset will get a dual core processor, which sounds rather odd to me, because even mid-rangers nowadays get quad core processors. Besides that, it’s supposedly going to be backed by 2 GB RAM, which points towards a more powerful processor yet again. 16 GB ROM and a microSD card will also be featured in the BlackBerry Leap, alongside an 8 MP rear camera and a 2 MP front camera. Thus far, rudimentary. We’re looking forward to hearing more from John Chen at the MWC 2015 next week, and we’re honestly hoping that the BlackBerry Leap will surprise us in the end. Featured image/ John Chen portrait courtesy of Mark Blinch.

 

As part of the editorial team here at Geekreply, John spends a lot of his time making sure each article is up to snuff. That said, he also occasionally pens articles on the latest in Geek culture. From Gaming to Science, expect the latest news fast from John and team.

Gadgets

Amazon DJI Store in Germany hacked? DJI NEO Fly More Combo reveals it

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We wanted to check all DJI Stores across the world on Amazon and found out an interesting probable hack on there store in Germany.

See below Screenshot

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Some might even buy the Fly More package without regards to the Title –

KuyuqudGVg 6 x 12 Inch Summer Sushi Printed License Plate Frame for Car, Car Tag, Car Tag  –What?????

So when you buy it and than realize you receive a pack of Car Tags instead of DJI NEO Fly More Combo and want to ask a refund will Amazon Germany give it back to you or will the buyers remain with a minus 293 Euro in there account.

What are you thougts about this?

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Gadgets

Spotify is providing refunds for Car Thing as it confronts a lawsuit regarding the malfunctioning of the streaming device

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Spotify is receiving ongoing criticism for its choice to terminate support for Car Thing, its in-car streaming device, which was announced in May. According to the company, the device will become inoperable after December 9, 2024. Gen Z users on TikTok are sharing videos to express their dissatisfaction with Spotify’s decision and its suggested measures, such as transitioning to Android Auto or CarPlay. The users point out that they often lacked access to integrated infotainment systems in their cars, which makes them a prime target market for a specialized player like Car Thing.

The streaming service’s in-car device hadn’t been on the market long enough to become outdated. The product was introduced in February 2022 but was subsequently discontinued within the same year. However, the company assured customers who had already purchased units that it would continue to provide support and maintenance. Prior to its release, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek indicated that there was a significant consumer interest in this product. During an earnings call with investors, Ek reported that over 2 million users had registered on the Car Thing waitlist in anticipation of its launch.

While Spotify did not disclose official figures, it is probable that Car Thing did not meet expectations or did not justify further investment in the current challenging economic climate. Spotify, on the other hand, terminated approximately 1,500 employees towards the end of last year. This followed previous rounds of layoffs earlier in the year that impacted hundreds of employees.

Car Thing users, on the other hand, are not concerned with the company’s financial issues; their primary concern is the functionality of the device or, at the very least, receiving a refund for the $90 cost.

As a result, some individuals have attempted to lodge their complaints directly with Spotify by sending direct messages on the X platform using the handle @SpotifyCares or by utilizing different email addresses associated with Spotify that have been shared on Reddit. As a result, certain users have reported that Spotify provided them with multiple months of a premium subscription as compensation for their inconvenience, whereas others have stated that they inquired with customer service and were informed that no reimbursements were being offered.

According to Spotify, they have recently implemented a refund procedure for Car Thing. However, the user must present evidence of purchase in order to be eligible for the refund.

Car Thing users were officially informed about the availability of customer support through a second email sent on Friday of last week, in response to the increasing criticism and dissatisfaction caused by the discontinuation of Car Thing. Within the message, Spotify provides users with the appropriate customer support link to contact the company. The email does not guarantee any reimbursements but states that users can contact us for inquiries.

Although a refund might appease a certain segment of the user population who are dissatisfied with Car Thing, numerous individuals are earnestly imploring the company through TikTok videos and comments on Spotify’s TikTok posts to refrain from rendering their device inoperable. (Indeed, grievances regarding the Car Thing have become so prevalent on Spotify’s videos that the algorithmically generated search recommendation on certain videos is “what is the spotify car thing.”)

“Spotify, I kindly request that you refrain from subjecting me to any further distress.” “I have a strong affection for my automobile,” expressed Carla, a TikTok user known as @carlititica on the platform.

“Depressed,” expressed another user, @nikkilovestech. “They seem to encourage people to use their phone, which is a source of distraction,” she stated in the video description while demonstrating a Car Thing mounted on her dashboard. In her video, she also addressed the issue of electronic waste resulting from the discontinuation of a fully functional product.

Spotify is still facing challenges regarding the discontinuation of Car Thing, despite the introduction of a refund process that has not been widely publicized. According to Billboard, Spotify is currently dealing with a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit alleges that Spotify deceived customers by selling them a product that would soon become outdated, and then failing to provide refunds. The lawsuit was initiated on May 28th.

While Spotify is unable to provide a comment regarding the lawsuit, a representative did share the following statement regarding Car Thing:

The objective of our Car Thing investigation in the United States was to gain further insights into individuals’ auditory habits while driving. In July 2022, we made a public statement declaring our decision to cease any future manufacturing activities, and now we must bid farewell to the devices altogether. The deactivation of all Car Thing devices will occur on December 9, 2024, giving users until that date to continue using them. To gain further knowledge about the various methods available for listening to Spotify in your car, please refer to the For The Record section. Car Thing users can contact Customer Support for any inquiries by visiting: https://support.spotify.com/us/contact-spotify-support/

While the issues surrounding Car Thing may not impact all of Spotify’s user base, this development coincides with a period when users are already dissatisfied with being required to pay additional fees for features they consider essential to a music service, such as access to lyrics, a feature that Spotify recently made available only to paying subscribers. Furthermore, users are expressing dissatisfaction with Car Thing and are issuing ultimatums to discontinue their subscription to Spotify due to the introduction of paid access to lyrics.

Furthermore, Spotify raised its subscription fees last year, and Bloomberg has reported that another price hike is imminent in 2024.

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Mobile Devices

3 Video Games About Women’s Health

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Video games have transcended entertainment to become powerful tools for promoting health and wellness. One notable genre in this realm is fitness gaming, exemplified by titles like Hatsune Miku Fit Boxing, which motivates players to engage in physical activity to enhance their fitness levels. Building on this foundation, developers have ventured into women’s health with games designed to raise awareness and empower players to take control of their well-being. Here are 3 video games on women’s health that provide valuable health information and foster a sense of agency to uplift women around the world.

Tampon Run – Menstrual health

Created by Girls Who Code alumnae Andrea Gonzales and Sophie Houser in 2014, Tampon Run is an old-school 8-bit online game where the main character, Luna, lobs tampons to destroy enemies, who will confiscate the tampons if she lets them pass by. Interestingly, the concept of weaponized tampons is based on a real incident that occurred in 2013, where Texas state troopers confiscated tampons as potential projectiles, but not guns, from visitors observing a vote on abortion restrictions at the Texas State Capitol. The goal of Tampon Run is to destigmatize periods and menstrual products, which, up until recently, have not been properly studied to measure their absorbency, which underscores the need to address menstrual health so that women can get better care.

In between tossing tampons, Luna shares empowering messages about how periods are a natural part of women’s lives and should not be a source of shame or embarrassment. The game is available to play on the Tampon Run website and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for iOS users.

PCOS Vitality – PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a complex hormonal condition and the leading cause of female infertility that affects approximately 5 to 6 million women in the US, according to the Endocrine Society. Common features of the condition include having irregular menstrual periods, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries. Additionally, some studies estimate that up to 88% of women with PCOS are overweight or obese. While there are weight loss programs helping women tackle PCOS, focusing on aspects like lifestyle, symptom management, diet, and other tips for how to lose weight with PCOS, the condition itself remains grossly under-researched. For some women, it may take years to confirm that they have PCOS, as there are other disorders that mimic PCOS signs and symptoms that must be excluded.

The lack of research has extended to a lack of awareness among the general population and is what clinicians from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland are trying to address with the 2023 game PCOS Vitality. Essentially a learning tool, the game takes users through a simple obstacle course. As you click toward the finish line, you are asked simple trivia questions about PCOS. The game is free to play on Focus Games’ website.

Bound by Blood – Period poverty

Period poverty refers to the lack of regular access to period products, painkillers, or underwear during a menstrual cycle. In the US, where 16.9 million menstruating women live in poverty, two-thirds cannot afford basic menstrual products. Period poverty has also been associated with mental health issues and urinary tract infections.

Available to play on the itch.io website, Bound by Blood was created by Jessica Gates in 2017 and aims to educate players about the reality of period poverty. Users take the character of Beth, a homeless woman who wakes up in her car and realizes that she’s started her period. Players then make a series of choices to try to stay as hygienic as possible in spite of lacking resources such as menstrual products and clean restrooms. There isn’t really a way to “win” the game, and it is instead a peek into the reality of life where period products are inaccessible and how this affects women’s quality of life.

Through these games, players not only gain valuable insights into various aspects of women’s health but also find themselves actively engaged in their own well-being. As developers continue to explore this emerging field, the potential for video games to serve as educational tools and catalysts for change in healthcare remains promising

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